Layer winding machine for very fine wires



NOV. 16, 1965 U 3,217,991

LAYER WINDING MACHINE FOR VERY FINE WIRES Filed Dec. 30, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR ert mud BY PM, JW 8 PM ATTORNEYS Nov. 16, 1965 I A. BAUD 3,217,991

LAYER WINDING MACHINE FOR VERY FINE WIRES Filed Dec- 50, 1964 I 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 t Baud er M m ATTORNEYS Nov. 16, 1965 A. BAUD LAYER WINDING MACHINE FOR VERY FINE WIRES Filed Dec. 30, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR A Z be rt Baud QQN Jam Jug le & 1 ATTORNEYS Nov. 16, 1965 BAUD 3,217,991

- LAYER WINDING MACHINE FOR VERY FINE WIRES Filed Dec. 30, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 gum! g i- OR -|||m Albert Baud yQOM- .jvw emmujw ATTORNEYJ Nov. 16, 1965 A. BAUD 3,217,991

LAYER WINDING MACHINE FOR VERY FINE WIRES Filed Dec. 30, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Alberf Baud BY/PMTJW&/PAM

ATTORNEYS Nov. 16, 1965 A. BAUD LAYER WINDING MACHINE FOR VERY FINE WIRES 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR Filed Dec. 30, 1964 Alberrf Baud ATTORNEYS Nov. 16, 1965 UD 3,217,991

LAYER WINDING MACHINE FOR VERY FINE WIRES Filed Dec. 30, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet '7' why??? Ezf INVENTOR Alberf Baud BY W 2 ATTORNEYS 1965 A. BAUD 3,217,991

LAYER WINDING MACHINE FOR VERY FINE WIRES Filed Dec. so, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet a Aufierf Baud Wm 9W 2 Paula ATTORNEY Nov. 16, 1965 A. BAUD 3,217,991

LAYER WINDING MACHINE FOR VERY FINE WIRES Filed Dec. 30, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet a \gzg INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofifice 3,217,991 Patented Nov. 16, 1965 Micafil A.-G., Zurich, Switzerland, 3 ioint-stock company Filed Dec. 30, 1964, Ser. No, 422,285 12 Claims. (Cl. 242-25) The present invention relates to machines for winding very small diameter wire into coils containing a plurality of w nding layers, and is a continuationin-part of my copending application Serial No. 146,546, filed October 20 1961, now abandoned.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an im proved winding machine capable of rapidly winding into multi-layer coil form a wire having a relatively small diameter, e.g. of the order of from 0.01 mm. to 0.15 mm.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved machine for winding small diameter wire into multi-layer coils essentially without stopping the machine, this being accomplished through the use of plurality of winding shafts on which one or more spools are mounted for winding the coils, these shafts being driven in alternation so that one or more coils may be wound on one shaft while the other shaft is being refitted with empty spools for winding more coils.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved winding machine wherein coils of symmetrical or asymmetrical trapezoidal contour can be produced by means of an automatic layer shortening mechanism.

Another object is to provide an electrically controlled coil winding machine wherein means are provided for stopping rotation of a winding shaft when the turns counter indicates that the desired number of turns have been wound on, as well as in the event of a break or runout in the wire supply.

The foregoing, as well as other objects and advantages inherent in the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof and the accompanying drawings illustratin g the same. In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is top plan view of the layer winding machine;

FIG. 2 is a view of the machine in end elevation;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the mechanism controlling rotation of the wire feed spindles in alternation;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view with some parts in elevation showing the overall drive mechanism for the machine;

FIG. 5 is a view showing details of the mechanism for controlling operation of the winding shafts in alternation;

FIG. 6 is a view showing more details of a part of the overall drive mechanism illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are detail views showing the operating components by which one is enabled to adjust the speed of the wire guide feed spindles;

FIG. 9 is a detail view showing the arrangement provided for adjusting the width of each layer of winding;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view on line 1111 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 12 is an electrical wiring diagram for the winding machine.

With reference now to the drawing, the improved layer winding machine includes a drive box 1 in which are incorporated the wire guide feed and drive coupling units of the machine which will be described in detail later on. Projecting laterally from opposite the sides of the drive box 1 are two drive heads 2, 2' on which two winding shafts 3, 3' with spools 4, 4 to be wound can be clamped.

One winding shaft 3 is secured in rotative position between head 2 and tailstock 5, and the other shaft 3 is similarly secured in rotative position between head 2' and tailstock 5'.

One or more traveling wire guides are installed on each side of the machine to feed the wire to the coils being wound on the spools 4, 4. In FIG. 1, one such wire guide 6 is shown in association with spool 4 and a similar wire guide 6 is shown in association with spool 4. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the wire 7 is passed from a supply reel 8 up and over an unreeling braking wheel 9. Wire 7, after leaving the braking wheel 9 is then passed downwardly and around the guide pulley 10 on the wire guide unit 6, thence upwardly and around a pulley 11 on the wire tensioning arm 12, and then downwardly again and around a second guide pulley 13 of the wire guide unit 6. From pulley 13, the wire passes to the spool 4 which is being wound with wire. In a similar manner, another supply reel of Wire is provided together with another unreeling braking unit 9' and tension arm 12' which feeds wire to the other wire guide 6 and thence to the other spool 4' to be wound.

Reciprocating movement of the wire guides 6, 6 is produced by feed spindles 14, 14 which are controlled respectively from the drive box 1, the feed spindles 14, 14 being driven in alternation. The wire guides 6, 6' are mounted respectively upon reciprocating feed carriages 15, 15' which are driven respectively by the feed spindles 14, 14. These feed carriages slide upon guide rail 16 shown in FIG. 2, and the sliding movement is rendered substantially friction-free by means of bearings 17.

Upstanding upon the drive box 1 is a post 18 and extending laterally at each side of this post is a cross beam 19 to which the unreeling brake elements 9 and their associated unreeling arms 12 are attached by set screws 21. Located within the drive box is a counter 22 which allows the previous selection of a particular number of turns on each spool and stops the machine when this number has been reached. The turns: counter is provided with a make contact 23 which imparts, when the preselected number of turns is reached, a negative pulse to one of the inputs to amplifier 91 shown in FIG. 12. This impulse causes the uncoupling magnet 92 and braking magnet 86 to become energized simultaneouslyso as to thereby bring the winding machine to a standstill.

The various switches and push buttons shown in FIG. 1 provide for the following functions of the machine. Manual switch 28 controls a magnetic clutch 29 which controls rotation of drive head 2' and shaft 3, and manual switch 31 controls in a similar manner the magnetic clutch 32 which serves to control rotation of drive head 2 and winding shaft 3. Manually actuated switch 33 serves to stop the machine at the left layer end on shaft 3 or 3, while manual switch 34 can be used to stop the machine at the right layer end of shaft 3 or 3'. Switch 35 functions in its left position, on simultaneously pressing button 36 for the returnof the carriage 15 or 15' into the left starting position; with the switch 35 in its right position, the carriage 15 or 15 is returned tothe right end position. Switches 37, 38 serve for an arbitrary switch over of the carriage advance in the opposite direction. Lamps 39 and 39' indicate the carriage movement. A rotatable dial 41 with a suitable scale allows, by means of the frictional drive mechanism to be later described, selectable advance adjustment of the carriages 15, 15 in the range between 10.01 and 0.15 mm. wire thickness. The switch-over stops or layer widths of the coils being wound can be adjusted by a coarse setting screw and a fine adjustment screw. At the same time the machine is equipped with a device which permits a winding with shortened layers. This device, shown in FIG. 9, is described in detail later. The wire guides 6 and 6' can, since they run along on both sides of the drive box, he uncoupled by raising otf from the feed spindles 14 or 14'. The machine is provided with a control lever 45 which serves for switching the machine on and off. The entire machine is mounted on the base plate 46.

The feed spindles 14, 14' are driven selectively by means of magnetic couplings from a feed spindle drive shaft 47 as shown in FIG. 3. The drive shaft 47 drives a carrier ring 48 in rotation and the latter imparts rotational movement to two magnetic yokes 49, 49. Arranged on the drive shaft 47 are bevel gears 51, 51' mounted on it by means of bearings 52, 52' 53, 53'. For elimination of axial play between these hearings, compression springs 54, 54 are utilized.

Bevel gears 51, 51 mesh continuously with bevel gears 55, 55' connected with feed spindles 14 and 14'. On a switch-over of the rotational direction, through instantaneous electrical switching from magnet coil 49 to magnet coil 49 the coupling of bevel gears 51, 51 is undertaken, with, of course, the rotational directions of the bevel gears 55, 55' being reversed.

The winding machine is driven by a direct current motor 57 as shown in FIG. 4 which is controlled by a transformer across rectifiers with an adjustable voltage, and whose speed of rotation is regulated in this way. The motor shaft 58 drives an intermediate gearing with the gear wheels 59, 61 and by this, the shaft 62. In FIG. is shown the coupling parts of the frictional drive gearing for speed regulation of the winding shafts 3, 3. Shaft 62 driven from motor 57 is connected with a frictional disc 63 and this latter together with shaft 62, with the aid of spring 64 produces across the pressure element 65 and thrust bearing 66 a frictional pressure against friction disc 67.

On the same shaft with friction disc 67 driven in the manner described above, and the speed of which is regulated by means of a device hereinafter described in detail, there is fitted a gear wheel 68 engaging gear wheel 69 with a tooth ratio of 1:1. Gear 68 engages simultaneously with a driving gear wheel of the turns counter 22, which gear is not shown in FIG. 4. On the shaft of gear 69 is mounted a pinion 71 engaging with gear 72. The shaft of gear 72 is provided with a pinion 73 which meshes with a gear 74 and this latter gear is provided with a pinion 75 which through an idler gear 76 drives a gear 77 secured to shaft 80 and upon which is mounted a friction type driver disc 78. Disc 78 constitutes the driving part of a variable speed transmission, hereinafter described, which functions to adjust the feed rate of the carriage and hence that of the wire guides in dependence upon the diameter of the Wire being wound. A driven friction disc 79 of this carriage feed adjusting device, which can be adjusted radially on driver disc 78 by means explained later on, drives the spindle feed drive shaft 47 which serves to shift the wire guide carriages by rotation feed spindles 14, 14.

For controlling the speed of the winding shafts 3, 3', provision is made for shifting the driven disc 67 radially on its driving disc 63. This is done by means of the pivotally mounted control lever 45 which serves to shift disc 67 longitudinally on its shaft 81, along the key 82 by which disc 67 is mounted on shaft 81. Secured upon shaft 81 is a drive gear 68 meshed with a driven gear 69 secured upon drive shaft 85. An electromagnetic brake 86 is associated with shaft 81 and from shaft 85 are driven the winding shafts 3 or 3' depending upon which of the magnetic clutches 29 or 32 is energized. The shaft speed will, of course, depend upon the position of disc 67 on its driving disc 63. In the event of a wire break, the winding machine will be stopped. More specifically, each wire unreeler tension arm 12, 12' is provided with a contact 89 which is brought into operation in the event a break occurs in the wire being unreeled, or in the event that a wire supply spool becomes empty. In either event, arm 12 or 12' which is thus no longer held down by the tension in the wire, swings upward to an almost vertical position, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2, thus causing contact 89 shown in the wiring diagram of FIG. 12 to close which thereby establishes an input to amplifier 91 and results in energization of electromagnets 86 and 92 thereby bringing the winding machine to a standstill. With electro-magnet 92 energized, the armature 92a consisting of soft iron is retracted against the action of spring 64 and actuates lever 93. The lower end of lever 93 is engaged with a slide 94 and forces it backward against the tension of spring 95. A catch member 96 connected to slide 94, is for its part pulled backward by the latter. Through this movement, the toe 96a of catch 96 is freed from a notch 97a in slide 97 which actuates disc 67. This permits the restoring force built up in biasing spring 98 connected to the slide 97 to shift the latter and hence also disc 67 to the middle of friction disc 63. Thereby the drive speed is brought back to zero. This mode of operation can be seen from the side view, FIG. 4 and the top view, FIG. 5.

Upon starting up of the machine again, control lever 45 which is also coupled to slide 97, is brought to the position epicted in PEG. 5 so that catch 96a again rests in the notch of slide 97 and disc 67 is once again brought away from the center, zero drive position, into a definite driving speed position on friction disc 63. At the same moment that magnet 92 is energized, brake magnet 86 is switched in parallel with it and also energized and intro duces an instantaneous braking of the winding shaft 3 or 3.

In FIG. 4 it will be seen that shaft 58 driven by motor 57 serves normally by way of the above-mentioned gearing and drive shaft for the drive of the winding shaft 3, 3'. This drive is used also for an accelerated return run of either carriage 15 or 15'. This is done by pressing push button 36. This takes place by way of pinion 101 and gear wheel 102 to which is secured a friction drive disc 103, intermediate friction roller 104 and friction drive disc 105 secured upon shaft 47. The intermediate friction roller 104 is normally disengaged with the aid of electromagnetic clutch 106 which is normally continuously energized and in a disengaged state. If, as described, push button 36 is pressed, then magnet 106 becomes de-energized and its spring 107 presses the intermediate friction roller 104 between the two friction discs 103 and 105, and the wire-guide carriages 15, 15' are returned in an accelerated manner in opposite directions as far as the layer end contact. In order that the return movement of the Wire-guide carriages can take place, as a consequence to de-energization of electromagnet 1416, through interposition of friction roller 194, friction disc 78 of the normal advance which determines the speed of rotation of the feed spindles 14, 14' must be uncoupled. This is accomplished by parallel switching of the electromagnetic clutch 108 which retracts friction disc 78 of the friction drive.

The adjustment of the carriage feed of the machine takes place with the assistance of dial 41 shown in FIG. 1. This dial is located on shaft 109 and serves to effect rotation of this shaft and hence, pinion 110 which serves to displace the gear rack 111 which is guided in slideways 112, 112'. Displacement of gear rack 111 causes friction disc 79 to be displaced radially with respect to the center of driver friction disc 78 and thereby correspondingly adjusts the speed of the feed spindles 14, 14.

In order to rotate the carriage feed selector dial 41, the dial must first be pressed inward. This serves to overgear rack 138.

come biasing spring 114, release the brake coupling parts 115 and 116, energize micro switch 117 and through the latter cause electromagnetic coupling 108 to be energized. This effects retraction of friction disc 78 against the counter force of compression spring 118 so that friction disc 79 is free to turn. By rotating dial 41 it will then be seen that friction disc 79 is displaced along the driving disc 78 to the desired spindle feed speed for the carriage.

When contact 120 on the feed carriage part 15" forming a part of and movable with either carriage 15 or 15' strikes against the switchover stops 121 or 121' as seen in FIGS. 9 and 12, the two outputs from amplifier 155 switch over so that the direction of rotation of shaft 47 reverses and reverses the direction of the carriages FIGS. 9 and show the adjustment mechanism for the winding width of the coil, through the clamping nut halves 122 and 122', which can be uncoupled by turning knob 123 and its pins 124 or 124' by means of the shaft 125 which is located in bearing 126, Thereby a displacement by hand, is possible of the support parts 127 and 128 for a coarse adjustment in Width. In the support part 127 is installed a fine adjustment screw 129 which is attached to the support part 128 by means of a screw shaft 131. The pitch of screw shaft 131 is so chosen that one turn thereof corresponds to a half millimeter in the carriage path.

In order to eliminate any play in screw 131, a compression spring 132 is installed between the parts 127 and 128. The adjustment in coil width can be undertaken on one side of the switch-over. The switch-over stops 121 or 121, which control the rotational direction of the feed spindles in the manner shown in FIGS. 3 and 12, are attached to the support plates 133 and 133. If, for special windings, there is required a so-called progressively layer-shortened trapezoidally built up coil winding, then the amount of the desired layer shortening is adjusted by means of the screws 134 or 134. With the aid of these screws, the stop pins 135 or 135, which are installed on the setting pieces 136 and 136' provided with a mark, are displaced parallel to the winding axis. On the supports 133 and 133' is located a scale which indicates opposite the mark on the setting pieces 136, 136' the desired amount of the layer shortening. The layer shortening device comprises essentially the rotary stepping devices 137 and 137'. In accordance with FIG. 9 only the stepping device 137 will be described in detail since it is shown in section. For the other stepping device 137' the construction is the same, however, in a reverse sense.

With rack 138 shown in FIG. 11 meshes a pinion 139 which is connected by way of shaft 141 with drum 142. This drum is coupled with a shell 143 and constitutes a cone clutch and the drum 142 can be uncoupled from the shell 143 by pressing the push button 144 inwardly against the counter force of biasing spring 145 so that a return of the switch-over stops to the starting position is possible. The layer shortening takes place in the following manner: around shaft 141 and pinion 139 is pivoted a latch piece 146, FIG. 9. Within this latch piece are two free-wheeling spherical elements 147 and 148 which exercise the same function, namely, that on the striking by switchover pin 130, on latch piece 146, the latter is rotated around shaft 141 overcoming the biasing force of spring 151. During this movement sphere 148 is wedged between the bore in latch piece 146 and the outside of shell 143 and thus this shell is rotated in the same direction and hence, rotates shaft 141, pinion 139 and shifts support plate 133 along Now the switch-over of the wire feed follows through the striking of contact finger 120 of carriage on the switch-over stop 121. The force of spring 151 swings the latch piece 146 back, whereby the wedging action on sphere 148 is loosened so that this sphere free wheels in the reverse direction. At each such striking of pin on latch piece 146, switch-over stop 121 including its support 133 is therefore shifted with respect to the stationary base part over the same steps to the left so that the layer width is shortened at each switch-over operation by the same amount. The left end of the layer is shortened in the reverse sense, i.e. to the right by means of strike pin 130 and latch piece 146' etc., so that also at this side of the coil being wound the layers are progressively shortened. It is to be noted that the progressive shortening of the layers at each and thereof need not be the same, i.e. not equal so that it is possible to build up a trapezoidal coil configuration which is asymmetrical.

FIG. 12 illustrates in schematic form the wiring for the electrically operated components in the winding machine. With reference now to FIG. 12 it will be seen that three amplifiers 91, 155 and 156 are provided and these operate in accordance with the bistable sawtooth oscillator principle, there being two symmetrical inputs for each amplifier. These amplifiers make possible, in the known manner the use of contacts on inertia-free modulation of the switching magnets with relatively large switching currents. Accordingly, the three arnplifiers operate in a bistable manner, i.e. energized or nonenergized, and feed the various electromagnets in dependence upon the switch contacts.

The two electromagnetic couplings for the two directions of movement of the guide carriages 15, 15' are activated by means of amplifier 155. If a current impulse -from contact member 121) which is firmly connected with the carriage passes across the accompanying switch stops 121 or 121 into one of the two symmetrical amplifier inputs, then the two amplifier outputs of amplifier 155 switch over into the currentless or currentcarrying condition, respectively, and, for example, the previously energized coupling magnet 49 falls away and the previously fallen off coupling magnet 49 attracts; with this, the feed spindles 14 or 14' exchange their directions of rotation. The switching on and off of the rotational movement of the winding shafts 3, 3 takes place through magnetic clutch 92 and brake 86 both fed from the output of amplifier 91. If, from the control lever of the machine, contacts 158, 160 on the left entrance to amplifier 91 are closed, then the amplifier out put is currentless; the drive shaft coupling 92 is engaged and brake magnet 86 releases the appertaining winding shaft.

As soon as the second amplifier input is closed e.g. through contacts 159, 160 or by one of the wire-break control contacts 89 on the wire unreelers, or on attaining the desired number of turns by the turns counter contacts 23, then the output of amplifier 91 shifts from the previously currentless state into the current-carrying state. This effects uncoupling of the drive through electromagnetic clutch 92 and braking of the Winding shaft through electromagnetic brake 86.

Amplifier 156 serves for the return of the guide carriage 15 or 15' to the beginning end of the wire layer on spools 4, 4'. Carriage movement takes place, as previously mentioned, either by way of electromagnet clutch 108 or in the opposite direction with increased speed directly from drive shaft 62 by means of the electromagnet coupling 106. These two magnets are energized alternatively from the two outputs of amplifier 156. These two amplifier outputs are of the symmetrically tipping type, i.e. One such output is always in a current-carrying state while the other is currentless, and vice versa. The tipping action of the amplifier outputs takes place at the same time on closing of the left, or of the right input side of amplifier 156.

Through activation of the switch-over 35 it can be determined whether the guide carriage on pressing b ut ton 36 inwardly is to run to the right or left starting or end position of the winding layer. If the switch-over 35 is as shown in FIG. 12 to the right, then the control functions as follows: through activation of push button switch 36 contacts 163 close the right input side of amplifier 156. Thereby the output of this amplifier tips, electromagnet 106 becomes deenergized, clutch 163 is energized and the carriage runs with increased speed to the right. This, for the reason that through the second set of contacts 164 on push button switch 36 also an impulse passes by way of the switch-over 35 to the left input of amplifier 155. This now results in a reverse impulse passing from stop 121' over switchover 35 to the left input of amplifier 156 whereupon electromagnet coupling 106 is again energized and magnetic clutch 19% becomes de-energized.

If the machine is to be stopped each time at the left end or right end of a winding layer, then the corresponding switches 33, 34 are to be activated. With this, the layer impulse of the switch-over stops 12.1 or 121 is effective by way of the two pre-amplifiers 164 and 165 in the same way as the turns counter, or the wire-break controls across the second input of amplifier 91 so that its output tips into the current-carrying state, and the winding shaft stops.

I claim:

1. In a multi-layer type coil winding machine, the combination comprising a drive box, coil winding shafts extending laterally from opposite sides of said drive box, each said shaft serving to support one or more spools to be wound with wire to form said multi-layer coils, a wire guide carriage at each side of said drive box extending parallel with the appertaining winding shaft, wire guide means on each said carriage, reversible feed spindles for effecting a reciprocating movement of each said carriage and the wire guide means thereon, a drive mechanism in said drive box, said drive mechanism including a drive motor, a first drive shaft driven by said motor, a first variable speed friction drive comprising a first driving disc secured to said first drive shaft and coupled by a first magnetic clutch to a first driven disc, means mounting said first driven disc for displacement radially on said first driving disc, means for selectively coupling said first driven disc to each of said winding shafts for effecting rotation thereof, said drive mechanism further including a gear train driven by said first driven disc, 21 second variable speed friction drive comprising a second driving friction disc driven by said gear train and coupled by a second magnetic clutch to a second driven friction disc, means mounting said second driven disc for displacement radially on said second driving disc, a second drive shaft driven by said second driven friction disc, a reversible transmission mechanism driven by said second drive shaft, said reversible transmission including output drive members connected to said feed spindles and alternately energized third and fourth reversing magnetic clutches for rotating said feed spindles first in one direction and then the other, means for alternately energizing said third and fourth magnetic clutches comprising longitudinally spaced limit contacts, a movable contact connected to said carriage to alternately engage said limit contacts when actuated back and forth between said limit contacts in accordance with the reciprocating carriage movement, and a supplementary drive extending between said first and second drive shafts, said supplementary drive being of the friction type and including a fifth magnetic clutch for effecting an alternate drive connection between said first and second drive shafts to drive the latter and hence said feed spindles at a speed higher than that which is otherwise obtained through said gear train.

2. A multi-layer coil winding machine as defined in claim 1 and which further includes an electromagnetic brake for said first driven friction disc, and means responsive to a break in the wire being fed to said wire guide means for actuating said electromagnetic brake thereby to bring said first driven friction disc and the elements controlled thereby to a standstill and for simultaneously actuating said first magnetic clutch for releasing said first driving friction disc from said first driven friction disc.

3. A multi-layer coil winding machine as defined in claim 1 and which further includes means including switch means controlled by an operator for actuating said second magnetic clutch to uncouple said second driving friction disc from said second driven friction disc and for simultaneously actuating said fifth magnetic clutch to establish said supplementary drive between said first and second drive shafts.

4. A multi-layer coil winding machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for actuating said second and fifth magnetic clutches simultaneously includes an amplifier having two alternatively energized output circuits, said output circuits being connected respectively to the energizing windings of said second and fifth magnetic clutches, said alternatively energized output circuits from said amplifier being controlled by said operator controlled switch means and which latter are connecter to the amplifier input.

5. A multi-layer coil winding machine as defined in claim 1 and which includes an amplifier having two alternatively energized output circuits connected respectively to the energizing windings of said third and fourth reversing magnetic clutches, the input to said amplifier being controlled by said limit contacts and said movable contact member.

6. A multi-layer coil winding machine as defined in claim 1 and which further includes lever means actuatable by an operator and mechanically coupled with said first driven friction disc for shifting said disc radially inward and outward with respect to the axis of rotation of said first driving friction disc.

7. A multi-layer coil winding machine as defined in claim 1 and which further includes means mechanically coupling said first magnetic clutch with said first driven friction disc so as to displace the latter radially with respect to the axis of rotation of said first driving friction disc.

8. A multi-layer coil winding machine as defined in claim 1 and which further includes an adjustment shaft movable axially and rotatably, said adjustment shaft being mechanically coupled with a slide which effects adjustment of said second driven friction disc radially with respect to the axis of rotation of said second driving friction disc as said adjustment shaft is rotated, axial movement of said adjustment shaft serving to actuate a switch controlling a circuit for energizing the winding of said second magnetic clutch so as to release said second driving friction disc from said second driven friction disc during adjustment of the latter.

9. A mult-layer coil winding machine as defined in claim 1 and which further includes means for progressively shifting in a step-by-step manner the posititon of at least one of said limit contacts relative to said movable contact member thereby to effect a step-by-step change in the stroke of said carriage and wire guide means thereon in at least one directiton of movement.

10. A multi-layer coil winding machine as defined in claim 9 wherein said means for progressively shifting the position of one of said limit contacts is comprised of a rack gear secured to the support on which said limit contact is mounted, a pinion gear meshed with said rack gear, and a pivotally mounted latch piece actuated from a reset position by each stroke of said carriage for efiecting step-by-step rotary movement of said pinion gear.

11. A multi-layer coil winding machine as defined in claim It and which further includes means for adjusting the reset position of said latch piece.

12. A multi-layer winding machine as defined in claim 10 and which further includes manually operated means for effecting coarse and fine adjustments of said support upon which said limit contact is mounted thereby to effect corresponding coarse and fine settings of said limit contact relative to said movable contact independently 2,670,144 2/ 1954 Johnson 2429 of the means for effecting said progressive shifting of said 2,773,652 12/ 1956 Severini 242-45 limit Contact. 2,929,569 3/1960 Detrick et a1. 24225 2,959,372 11/1960 Sadorf 242-9X References C'ted by the Examme 5 2,971,706 2/1961 E1118 et a1, 242-9 UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 2,030,988 2/1936 Hofstetter 242-9 2,159,032 5 1939 Lea 2-431 750,699 3/1954 Gr Bn am 2,379,813 7/1945 Loueridge et a1. 242-43.1 2 597 375 5 1952 Rinehart 242 25 10 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examlner- 

1. IN A MULTI-LAYER TYPE COIL WINDING MACHINE, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A DRIVE BOX, COIL WINDING SHAFTS EXTENDING LATERALLY FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID DRIVE BOX, EACH SAID SHAFT SERVING TO SUPPORT ONE OR MORE SPOOLS TO BE WOUND WITH WIRE TO FORM SAID MULTI-LAYER COILS, A WIRE GUIDE CARRIAGE AT EACH SIDE OF SAID DRIVE BOX EXTENDING PARALLEL WITH THE APPERTAINING WINDING SHAFT, WIRE GUIDE MEANS ON EACH SAID CARRIAGE, REVERSIBLE FEED SPINDLES FOR EFFECTING A RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT OF EACH SAID CARRIAGE AND THE WIRE GUIDE MEANS THEREON, A DRIVE MECHANISM IN SAID DRIVE BOX, SAID DRIVE MECHANISM INCLUDING A DRIVE MOTOR, A FIRST DRIVE SHAFT DRIVEN BY SAID MOTOR, A FIRST VARIABLE SPEED FRICTION DRIVE COMPRISING A FIRST DRIVING DISC SECURED TO SAID FIRST DRIVE SHAFT AND COUPLED BY A FIRST MAGNETIC CLUTCH TO A FIRST DRIVEN DISC, MEANS MOUNTING SAID FIRST DRIVEN DISC FOR DISPLACEMENT RADIALLY ON SAID FIRST DRIVING DISC, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY COUPLING SAID FIRST DRIVEN DISC TO EACH OF SAID WINDING SHAFTS FOR EFFECTING ROTATION THEREOF, SAID DRIVE MECHANISM FURTHER INCLUDING A GEAR TRAIN DRIVEN BY SAID FIRST DRIVEN DISC, A SECOND VARIABLE SPEED FRICTION DRIVE COMPRISING A SECOND DRIVING FRICTION DISC DRIVEN BY SAID GEAR TRAIN AND COUPLED BY A SECOND MAGNETIC CLUTCH TOO A SECOND DRIVEN FRICTION DISC, MEANS MOUNTING SAID SECOND DRIVEN DISC FOR DISPLACEMENT RADIALY ON SAID SECOND DRIVING DISC, A SECOND DRIVE SHAFT DRIVEN BY SAID SECOND DRIVEN FRICTION DISC, A REVERSIBLE TRANSMISSION MECHANISM DRIVEN BY SAID SECOND DRIVE SHAFT, SAID REVERSIBLE TRANSMISSION INCLUDING OUTPUT DRIVE MEMBERS CONNECTED TO SAID FEED SPINDLES AND ALTERNATELY ENERGIZED THIRD AND FOURTH REVERSIING MAGNETIC CLUTCHES FOR ROTATING SAID FEED SPINDLES FIRST IN ONE DIRECTION AND THEN THE OTHER, MEANS FOR ALTERNATELY ENERGIZING SAID THIRD AND FOURTH MAGNETIC CLUTCHES COMPRISING LONGITUDINALLY SPACED LIMIT CONTACTS, A MOVABLE CONTACT CONNECTED TO SAID CARRIAGE TO ALTERNATELY ENGAGE SAID LIMIT CONTACTS WHEN ACTUATED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN SAID LIMIT CONTACTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECIPROCATING CARRIAGE MOVEMENT, AND A SUPPLEMENTARY DRIVE EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND DRIVE SHAFTS, SAID SUPPLEMENTARY DRIVE BEING OF THE FRICTION TYPE AND INCLUDING A FIFTH MAGNETIC CLUTCH FOR EFFECTING AN ALTERNATE DRIVE CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND DRIVE SHAFTS TO DRIVE THE LATTER AND HENCE SAID FEED SPINDLES AT A SPEED HIGHER THAN THAT WHICH IS OTHERWISE OBTAINED THROUGH SAID GEAR TRAIN. 